When he began his treatment for blood cancer, retired music teacher John Sharples decided to take some control over the situation, with encouragement from a good friend.
“I was initially diagnosed with lymphoma in 2021 after suffering with kidney stones. Whilst the kidney stones were quickly resolved, scans showed I had swollen lymph nodes in my groin and I was told it was lymphoma. The team at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre told me the cancer was low grade and that I wouldn’t begin any treatment just yet.” explains John from Mossley Hill.
symptoms following his treatment for lymphoma.
Lymphoma is a form of blood cancer that affects the white blood cells in the lymph nodes, which are small vessels all over the body. Low grade lymphoma can often be slow growing and slow to spread so it is common for it not to be treated right away and instead experts will closely monitor a patient’s symptoms.
However, when John started noticing lumps in his neck two years later, he contacted The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre who decided now was the time to begin his treatment.
John explains; “The team at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre had already explained everything to me before I started my treatment – Dr Arvind Arumainathan was kind, caring and direct. He told me my cancer was treatable with excellent recovery rates so I felt reassured. Still, beginning chemotherapy was daunting.”
John begin six months of chemotherapy treatment at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool in January 2024. He was offered treatment in the PETReA trial. This is an international clinical trial focussing on using PET/CT scans in making treatment decisions in follicular lymphoma. The lead investigator for the trial is Professor Andrew Pettitt, Consultant in Haemato-Oncology at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.
with a member of our nursing team, during one of his treatments.
“I was anxious for my first treatment. However, a good friend of mine had also been going through treatment for blood cancer. She told me to keep a record of everything. And I took her advice.”
John began recording every niggle, pain or symptom he had during his treatment. With the encouragement of his treatment team, he made a note of how he was feeling, no matter how small or insignificant it might have felt. He constructed graphs with timings and dates as well as rating the pain or discomfort he was in. John was supported throughout his treatment by the whole team, including Lymphoma Research Nurse, Aimee Weatherall.
“My oncology team were really impressed with all my charts and graphs. For example, I would track when I felt fatigued or was suffering with constipation or tingling sensations after my chemotherapy and would rate the pain from 1-10. It really helped my medical team to tweak my treatment and amend the medication I was on so I felt as well as possible throughout. It also gave me some control back in what is a really unpredictable time.
“Whilst I did experience side effects during my treatment, I was grateful for how responsive Dr Arumainathan and colleagues from the lymphoma team were. I think keeping such an accurate record of my symptoms was really helpful.”
John finished his treatment in June this year and is now recovering well and back doing the things he enjoys including singing with his choir and travelling with his wife, Yvonne. He’s even taken on physical challenges, doing 100 press ups a day to raise money to support cancer research.
John would advise others going through cancer treatment to speak to friends or family who have also experienced it for advice.
“I’m so glad I reached out to my friend and spoke to her about her experiences. I think it’s important for people to do that. It was her who encouraged me to make a record of everything which helped both me and my medical team during my treatment.
“I would also tell people not to be alarmed by your treatment. At The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, you’re in very safe hands, with a caring and knowledgeable team who will help you throughout your journey.”
